At least a dozen people were killed during the past 36 hours in Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh, all allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor locally called ‘potali’ or ‘ginger liquor’.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held an emergency meeting at his residence on Thursday and ordered the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the incident. Also, additional chief secretary (home) Rajesh Rajoura has been given the responsibility for the comprehensive probe into the incident.
While 10 persons have been arrested in the case by the Ujjain police, the Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Singh also suspended four cops following instructions of the CM. Those suspended include, Kharakuan police station in-charge M.L. Meena, beat in-charge Niranjan Sharma and two constables.
Upon prima-facie investigation, the SP found that the raw liquor (ginger) was sold in the Kharakuan police station area and death of people due to consumption of this liquor was not taken seriously by the police station in-charge, a government communique said. Others were suspended for negligence of duties.
The victims, some dead on spot and some in unconscious condition, were found in three police station areas of Kharakuan, Jeevajiganj and Mahakal. Those unconscious died soon after reaching hospital.
Chief medical and health officer (CMHO) of Ujjain, Dr Mahavir Khandelwal, confirmed to THE WEEK that 12 persons had died due to the consumption of toxic drink, which is suspected to have been spurious liquor, given the pungency of smell and the effect on the victims. “However, the exact nature of the drink that they consumed will be known only after the viscera report is received,” the CMHO said.
Khandelwal said that four died on Wednesday while eight succumbed after being brought to hospital on Thursday. He added that all the victims, coming from poor backgrounds, died within 15 minutes of reaching the hospital. Bodies of at least three of them remained unclaimed.
Ex-CM Kamal Nath attacks Chouhan on liquor mafia
Meanwhile, ex-chief minister Kamal Nath has attacked CM Chouhan on the liquor mafia. In a tweet, Nath asked till when the liquor mafia will keep claiming the lives of the people. “We had destroyed them but as soon as our government was out they have become fearless and active. Why does your government love the mafias so much? Why are they being let go and protected?” Nath asked. While paying homage to those dead, Nath further sought justice for the families of the victims, all possible help for them and stringent action against those guilty.
Nath has also constituted a special team, including MLA Mahesh Parmar, Manoj Chawla, Dilip Gurjar and Murli Morwal, who will visit the spots, meet the families of the victims and prepare a comprehensive report that will be submitted to Nath.
During the meeting, meanwhile, Chouhan said that people selling such poisonous intoxicants are enemies of the society and should get severe punishment. Action should be taken to ensure capital punishment to them. He also directed that networks of such sellers should be destroyed wherever they are working. He asked officials to keep watch on the entire state in this regard.
